Hands On: Toshiba's Back-to-School Laptops

The school year hasn't even ended, but Toshiba is already lining up its back-to-school laptops by giving its entire Satellite lineup a refresh.

With several entry-level systems selling for less than $500, the new laptops look great, and will have you going back to school in style. Toshiba gave us an early look at the new laptops, and we have our first impressions below.

While Toshiba's premium offerings are still equipped with Harman/Kardon speakers and sound, the new entry- and mid-level laptops also get some sweet sounds with specially tuned speakers from headphone maker Skullcandy. Combined with DTS sound enhancement and pre-programmed audio profiles designed for use with Skullcandy headphones, the new laptops sound great across the board.

The Satellite C Series is Toshiba's entry-level laptop line. The budget-friendly laptops start at less than $500, and come in 15-inch and 17-inch models. The C-Series design features molded black plastic with a textured finish across the lid and palmrest. Toshiba has slimmed down the usual bulk of entry-level laptops, making the new Satellite C55 and Satellite C75 26 percent slimmer than past C-Series models, while still offering features like full-size USB 3.0 and HDMI ports, a DVD optical drive, and hard drive capacity up to 1TB. The new Satellite C55 and C75 laptops have an improved keyboard, optional touch screens, and can be configured with several processor options from Intel (Celeron, Pentium, and Core i3) and AMD (A4 and A6).

The Toshiba Satellite C55 and C75 will be available through Toshiba and major Web retailers starting June 22, with configurations starting at $329.99.

In the $400-$700 range is the Satellite L-Series, with the 15.6-inch Satellite L55 and the 17.3-inch Satellite L75. Built for more robust productivity, the new L-Series laptops will be available with Intel Pentium and Core processors (Core i3 and Core i5), and AMD A4, A6, and A8 CPU options. The laptops are available with up to 12GB of RAM, optional DVD optical drives, a storage ranging from 500GB to 1TB. The laptops have a two-tone design, with Toshiba's slick-looking Fusion finish in grey across the lid and palmrest and black plastic for the chassis. The keyboard has also been improved, with a frameless design that reduces flexing when typing, and chiclet keys featuring a slightly curved surface for greater comfort. The laptops come with USB 3.0 and USB Sleep and Charge, along with HDMI and VGA output, Gigabit Ethernet, and your choice of 802.11n or 802.11ac Wi-Fi.

The Toshiba Satellite L55 and L75 will also be available on June 22, with prices starting at $399.99, and ranging up to $700 depending upon the configuration.

Stepping up in price and capability is Toshiba's Satellite S-Series and E-Series laptops. The Satellite S55t has an aluminum and plastic design that offers greater durability and a more luxurious feel, all with a matching silvery finish. The S-Series starts at $700, but the component options are also substantially better than those offered on the more budget-friendly models, with Intel Core i5 and Core i7 and AMD A8 and A10 processors available, 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard, and smaller features like a backlit keyboard and touch capability available in most configurations, and Harman Kardon speakers standard. You also have the option of a 1,920-by-1,080 display, up from the 1,366-by-768 offered on most entry-level systems. The S-Series also has a 17-inch model, the Satellite S75, which, in addition to a larger display, can be configured with either an HD+ (1,600-by-900) or full HD (1,920-by-1,080) display.

The 14-inch Satellite E45t is similar in design and feature set to the S55t, but will be sold exclusively through Best Buy. The 14-inch design makes it a bit more portable, while the slim build and aluminum and plastic construction are durable enough for on the go use.

Both the Satellite S-Series and E-Series laptops will be available starting June 22. The Satellite S-Series starts at $689.99 and varies by configuration. The Satellite E-Series will be available only through Best Buy, and has a starting price of $649.99.

Toshiba today also announced the Satellite P55t, which features the first 4K Ultra HD display in a consumer laptop. For more, see PCMag's hands on.

Brian Westover is an Analyst for the Hardware Team, reviewing laptops, desktops, and storage devices.
As a child, Brian was frequently asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" His answer alternated between Superman and Batman. This was cute when he was five, but worrisome at seventeen. Naturally, he is now a journalist, writing about technology and gadgets.
Brian has been writing professionally since 2007, and his work has appeared in business newsletters, websites, textbooks, and magazines. He earned his degree in Communications from...
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